Mug with trapezoid-shaped protrusions

ABSTRACT

Carl Cetera and Christon G. Suess have invented a new shaker mug. The cap of the shaker mug comprises a set of trapezoid-shaped protrusions around the side of the cap. This makes it easier for the user to unscrew and screw on the cap.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit from the U.S. Provisional Patent Application filed Jun. 17, 2013, with Ser. No. 61/835,890. The specification of the said provisional patent application is incorporated herein as set forth in full by this reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates the transport, storage and dispensing of nutritional powders and liquid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Athletes, bodybuilders and others who lift weights or engage in other strength building exercise often use protein and other nutritional supplements before, during and after their workouts. Powders are very popular for these purposes. Typically, people scoop powder from a canister and then pour the powder from the scoop into a glass so that the powder can be mixed with a liquid such as water, milk or juice. The present invention provides a user with the means to conveniently store and transport powder to the gym.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a shaker mug with uniform and evenly-spaced trapezoid-shaped protrusions around the periphery of the cap. Sometimes it is hard to open a shaker mug because the user may have been exercising and his or her hands might be sweaty. The shaker mug has these on the cap to make it easier to open and close the top tight when the user screws the top on. A protrusion can be substantially rectangular but will generally be slightly tapered (generally toward the top) so as to form a trapezoid. The corners of the protrusion can be rounded and not sharp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view with the top and bottom of the mug separated;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view with the top and bottom of the mug separated; and

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of mug protrusions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the present invention (a mug) with the cap 3 separated from the bottom 1. The bottom is hollow (in order to store liquids) and is generally in the shape of a cylinder. The bottom 1 has threads 2 with correspond to threads in the cap 3 so that cap can be screwed onto the top of the bottom. The top also has a spout assembly 5 which generally comprises a spout and a spout cover of some type. The user can drink through the spout and cover the cap with the spout cover when not drinking. The cap 2 has a plurality of trapezoid-shaped protrusions 4 around the side of the cap. The protrusions may be solid or hollow. When they are hollow, there may be an opening at the bottom of each protrusion. A protrusion will generally have a face, a top side, a right side and a left side. Typically, the protrusions are each of equal size and are spaced evenly around the side of the cap.

FIG. 2 shows the shaker mug with the cap separated but with a bottom perspective. The inner threads 6 around the inside of the cap can be seen. These female threads fit the male threads 2 on the cap 3.

FIG. 3 provides a close up of some of the protrusions of the mug. Each protrusion has a height. In the preferred embodiment, the height of each protrusion is 12 millimeters or substantially 12 millimeters. Each protrusion has a face 8, a right side 6 and a left side 7. In the preferred embodiment, the face 8 is slightly tapered such that it narrows toward the top. The edges of the face are generally straight although the face can be rounded at the corners. In the preferred embodiment, each side of the face 8 is at an angle of 89 degrees and the protrusion (viewing the face head on) is 7.650 millimeters at the top and 8.526 millimeters at the bottom. Generally, it is preferred that the width of a protrusion at the top is between 7.5 to 7.8 millimeters and the width at the bottom is between 8.4 and 8.7 millimeters. It is preferred that the protrusion is narrower at the top, but it is also possible for the protrusion to be narrower at the bottom. This tapering of the protrusions better enables a user to unscrew the cap from the bottom of the mug and also to screw on the cap tightly. When a user has been working out, he or she will often be sweaty. Because the user will generally open the cap with fingers down, the tapering makes it easier for sweaty hands to get a good grip and unscrew the cap. The

In the preferred embodiment, the right side 6 is rectangular in shape, as is the left side 7. It is preferred that both the right side 6 and the left side 7 each have the same width (in other words, the depth of the protrusion). In the preferred embodiment, the depth of the protrusion is 3.392. Generally, the protrusion will have a depth between 3.3 to 3.5 millimeters. It is preferred that the protrusions are spaced apart by 6.466 millimeters. Generally, they will be spaced apart by between 6.3 and 6.6 millimeters. The space between the protrusions and the depth of the protrusions should be substantial enough that a user can get his or her fingers substantially between the protrusions and push against the sides of the protrusions when opening the cap. In the preferred embodiment depicted herein, there are 20 evenly space protrusions around the circumference of the cap.

Preferably, the various parts of the system are formed from plastic or like material.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the techniques, structures and methods of the present invention above are exemplary. The present invention can be implemented in various embodiments without deviating from the scope of the invention. For example, different sizes and dimensions of the various components might be used. 

We claim as follows:
 1. A mug comprising: (a) a hollow bottom, said comprising male threading on a top end of said bottom; and (b) a spouted cap, said spouted cap comprising an inside and an outside, wherein said inside comprises female threading that matches the male threading of the top and said outside comprises a bottom end, said bottom end comprising a perimeter and a plurality of trapezoid-shaped protrusions evenly spaced around the entirety of said perimeter.
 2. The mug of claim 1, wherein each protrusion of said plurality of trapezoid-shaped protrusions has a depth and that depth is between 3.3 to 3.5 millimeters.
 3. The mug of claim 2, wherein the protrusions of said plurality of trapezoid-shaped protrusions are spaced apart by between 6.3 to 6.6 millimeters.
 4. The mug of claim 3, wherein each protrusion of said plurality of trapezoid-shaped protrusions has a height that is approximately 12 millimeters.
 5. A mug comprising: (a) a hollow bottom, said comprising male threading on a top end of said bottom; and (b) a spouted cap, said spouted cap comprising an inside and an outside, wherein said inside comprises female threading that matches the male threading of the top and said outside comprises a bottom end, said bottom end comprising a perimeter and a plurality of substantially rectangular protrusions evenly spaced around the entirety of said perimeter, wherein each protrusion of said plurality of substantially rectangular protrusions has a depth and that depth is between 3.3 to 3.5 millimeters.
 6. The mug of claim 5, wherein the protrusions of said plurality of substantially rectangular protrusions are spaced apart by between 6.3 to 6.6 millimeters.
 7. The mug of claim 6, wherein each protrusion of said plurality of substantially rectangular protrusions has a height that is approximately 12 millimeters. 